Dances with Bees

I photographed Jay Parsons, the beekeeper and owner of Dances with Bees, a Norcross based honey producer in the metro Atlanta area for a Three of a Kind photo feature for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Parsons owns around 20 hives that produce honey in the backyard of his home in Norcross. Parsons is one of among a growing number keepers within the metro Atlanta area.

Jay Parsons smokes one of his hives in Norcross as he checks them for indications of a swarm splitting off from the main group of bees on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Parsons, a master beekeeper, collects close to 500 pounds of honey from his 20 hives each season.

Jay Parsons smokes one of his hives in Norcross as he checks them for indications of a swarm splitting off from the main group of bees on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Parsons, a master beekeeper, collects close to 500 pounds of honey from his 20 hives each season.

Jay Parsons checks his hives in Norcross for indications of a swarm splitting off from the main group of bees on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Parsons, a master beekeeper, collects close to 500 pounds of honey from his 20 hives each season.

Jay Parsons checks his hives in Norcross for indications of a swarm splitting off from the main group of bees on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Parsons, a master beekeeper, collects close to 500 pounds of honey from his 20 hives each season.

Jay Parsons checks his hives in Norcross for indications of a swarm splitting off from the main group of bees on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Parsons, a master beekeeper, collects close to 500 pounds of honey from his 20 hives each season.

Jay Parsons checks his hives in Norcross for indications of a swarm splitting off from the main group of bees on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Parsons, a master beekeeper, collects close to 500 pounds of honey from his 20 hives each season.

Jay Parsons checks his hives in Norcross for indications of a swarm splitting off from the main group of bees on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Parsons, a master beekeeper, collects close to 500 pounds of honey from his 20 hives each season.

Jay Parsons checks his hives in Norcross for indications of a swarm splitting off from the main group of bees on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Parsons, a master beekeeper, collects close to 500 pounds of honey from his 20 hives each season.

Jay Parsons checks his hives in Norcross for indications of a swarm splitting off from the main group of bees on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Parsons, a master beekeeper, collects close to 500 pounds of honey from his 20 hives each season.

Jay Parsons checks his hives in Norcross for indications of a swarm splitting off from the main group of bees on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Parsons, a master beekeeper, collects close to 500 pounds of honey from his 20 hives each season.

Jay Parsons checks his hives in Norcross for indications of a swarm splitting off from the main group of bees on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Parsons, a master beekeeper, collects close to 500 pounds of honey from his 20 hives each season.

Jay Parsons checks his hives in Norcross for indications of a swarm splitting off from the main group of bees on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Parsons, a master beekeeper, collects close to 500 pounds of honey from his 20 hives each season.